Therapy dogs visit London Met students during Mental Health Awareness Week

London Met invited the charity Pets as Therapy onto campus as part of our events to mark Mental Health Awareness week

Date: 18 May 2018

London Met welcomed therapy dogs onto campus this week to mark Mental Health Awareness Week, an annual event dedicated to raising awareness and promote discussions surrounding mental health.

Organised by Pets as Therapy, a national charity who provide a therapeutic visiting service, students were given a chance to de-stress from course work and exam pressures by spending time with the dogs.

Psychology for Graduates student Helen Doyle said: “It was very rewarding to have them come to the University and such a stress of relief considering it’s exam season.’

Research shows that spending time with animals, such as dogs, boosts endorphins, helps relieve stress and even lowers blood pressure.

A variety of dog breeds including a Leonberger called Nelson and two mini wire-haired Dachshunds called Clemmie and Flo came to visit the students in the library.

Federica Arisco, Reader Services Manager at London Met who helped organise the event said: ‘It’s great we can offer this to our students. Living in London, it can be difficult to have a pet due to lack of space or even lack of time.’